Obviously we have a huge month coming up and it has yet to be determined what the upside for this team is, but looking at the roster, and seeing 9 games in 2015 you have to be encouraged with the future,of OU football, and 2016 in particular.
So it is said games are won up front, and OU looks to come back really strong next year. On offense, we return 3 starters in both tackles, and Alvarez inside who played center against TU. We got some PT for alex dalton and it looks like we get back kenyon frison who was expected to be our best OL this year by all accounts. Add some giants that we have redshirting this year paul and ford to the mix along with 4* bobby evans and the big guy from lackawanna, and you like our chances of putting together a really solid unit with better depth.
On defense in the front 7 we lose tapper, bond and striker. All terrific players. But we will be really experienced and talented up the middle. Walker, dimon, romar, wade, even overton....all these guys are playing well and the 2 linebackers behind them return as well. Obo has got some experience, and DeBerry is one of the highest rated recruits we've brought in to the program in recent years. We have a lot of young talent talent in these groups and Reynolds is getting better play out of the down guys than we have seen in many years.
On the backend you return your QB, your 2 RBs who look set to each gain 1000 from scrimmage this year, a 50 plus catch 800 plus yard recieving guy in westbrook, and some guys who have flashed potential to fill in.....andrews looks like a player. Quick has played well when hes gotten his opportunities. Baxter is fairly productive. Then we have another year in the program to get one of those tall guys going. Also if you havent looked at the juco kid from tyler JC's film, give it a look. Kenny STills clone.
The biggest improvement this year i think has come in the secondary. You have a group among the nations leaders in INTs and passing efficiency defense. And next year we bring every single player from that group back. We have some young guys pushing to get on the field and bring in some really nice players in the next recruiting class as well.
We bring back our kicker, and kick returner. We throw more guys into the mix for punt returns, and get a bit more experienced in those groups overall.
Plus the coaching changes will have another offseason's work to take effect. The offense will have more experience in rileys system and riley will come into next year knowing better what he can do with the guys he has.
On defense Cooks has his guys playing better, Reynolds has those guys playing better....another year of instruction and experience can only help you would think. Kish and Stoops are getting pretty good LB play and we look to bring in a heck of a class in that group...perhaps we can find some quick help from that group.
Like everyone i am hoping we can win out and get into the playoffs this year, but i think barring a total collapse these next 3 weeks. If we can win a couple of these games and be competitive in all of them and prepare well and play well in a bowl game you like our chances to take that momentum into 2016 with a chance to be a national contender. We have a schedule that sits up favorably in conference and out of conference opponents that give us a chance to be legitimized right away. I for ine am really pumpd about the future of this program.
So it is said games are won up front, and OU looks to come back really strong next year. On offense, we return 3 starters in both tackles, and Alvarez inside who played center against TU. We got some PT for alex dalton and it looks like we get back kenyon frison who was expected to be our best OL this year by all accounts. Add some giants that we have redshirting this year paul and ford to the mix along with 4* bobby evans and the big guy from lackawanna, and you like our chances of putting together a really solid unit with better depth.
On defense in the front 7 we lose tapper, bond and striker. All terrific players. But we will be really experienced and talented up the middle. Walker, dimon, romar, wade, even overton....all these guys are playing well and the 2 linebackers behind them return as well. Obo has got some experience, and DeBerry is one of the highest rated recruits we've brought in to the program in recent years. We have a lot of young talent talent in these groups and Reynolds is getting better play out of the down guys than we have seen in many years.
On the backend you return your QB, your 2 RBs who look set to each gain 1000 from scrimmage this year, a 50 plus catch 800 plus yard recieving guy in westbrook, and some guys who have flashed potential to fill in.....andrews looks like a player. Quick has played well when hes gotten his opportunities. Baxter is fairly productive. Then we have another year in the program to get one of those tall guys going. Also if you havent looked at the juco kid from tyler JC's film, give it a look. Kenny STills clone.
The biggest improvement this year i think has come in the secondary. You have a group among the nations leaders in INTs and passing efficiency defense. And next year we bring every single player from that group back. We have some young guys pushing to get on the field and bring in some really nice players in the next recruiting class as well.
We bring back our kicker, and kick returner. We throw more guys into the mix for punt returns, and get a bit more experienced in those groups overall.
Plus the coaching changes will have another offseason's work to take effect. The offense will have more experience in rileys system and riley will come into next year knowing better what he can do with the guys he has.
On defense Cooks has his guys playing better, Reynolds has those guys playing better....another year of instruction and experience can only help you would think. Kish and Stoops are getting pretty good LB play and we look to bring in a heck of a class in that group...perhaps we can find some quick help from that group.
Like everyone i am hoping we can win out and get into the playoffs this year, but i think barring a total collapse these next 3 weeks. If we can win a couple of these games and be competitive in all of them and prepare well and play well in a bowl game you like our chances to take that momentum into 2016 with a chance to be a national contender. We have a schedule that sits up favorably in conference and out of conference opponents that give us a chance to be legitimized right away. I for ine am really pumpd about the future of this program.
